Halloween decorating ideas - 23 playful ways to get your home ready for spooky season in style

Halloween decorating ideas have come a long way since the simple plastic cauldron and skeleton days. No longer restricted to scaring your guests Halloween decorations are now divided into three camps - dark and gothic, cosy autumnal or colourful and playful.

We have the US to thank for the influx of creative Halloween and autumnal decor that now floods our social media feeds and homes every October. It's become the perfect home decor trend to pep up our homes in the run-up to Christmas when it's still to early to deck the halls.

When planning your decorations always consider how long it will be up for and your existing home decor. For decorations that will be hung for a couple of weeks consider investing in soft furnishings and pumpkin candles that will take some wear and tear and not jar with your space.

If your decorations are only needed to scare the neighbours for a short period you can go wild with paper creations and glowing jack-o-lanterns.

1. Decoupage pumpkins for a twist on a classic

If you don't want to face the mess of carving a pumpkin, one of the best no-carving pumpkin decorating ideas we've seen this year is decoupage. Double up on the Autumnal theme by collecting fallen leaves and using them to cover a pumpkin or two.

Similar to painting a pumpkin, clean your pumpkin and coat it in a layer of PVA before layering on the leaves in your chosen design.

2. Dress the walls and windows with flying bats

Nothing bat crazy about this idea, it's genius! Savvy designer Amy Johnson, Twin Associates, shared this creative idea. The simple bats are made using light black card, Amy explained how she made them by 'folding each in half to cut symmetrically, doubling up the layers so you make more at once!'. Using white tack or Washi tape doubled over, simply secure the back of each bat, in the middle, to the wall at various heights – to create a flying motion.

You could also get crafty with window stickers to create this same effect - but they aren't just reserved for windows. Joanna Baumard, Co-Founder of Purlfrost says, 'A great activity for the whole family; let your imagination run wild and try them out on any smooth, non-porous surface including metal, plastics and laminates, painted and varnished woods, as well as walls.'

3. Mix and match decorative pumpkins

Pumpkin decorations are a great way to add a Halloween spin to your home, that will last through November. Hobbycraft and Cox and Cox have some lovely pumpkin decorations but the key to making them look good is mixing up the sizes and materials for an eye-catching focal point.

'Decorate with sweet pumpkin features that add a subtle touch of Halloween to your space. Try hanging our felt pumpkins from some faux stems, or from your door handles for a quaint and cute autumnal touch to your home,' recommends Danielle Le Vaillant, Head of Photography at Cox & Cox.

'Or why not try our faux rattan light-up pumpkins for a gentle glow that adds atmosphere to your home and keeps the magic of the season alive? Place on your mantle or on your fireplace for some extra seasonal warmth.'

3. Stencil a pumpkin design rather than carve

Save yourself the mess and potential trip to A&E by seeking an alternative to carving pumpkins. More and more pumpkin patches are offering an array of alternatively coloured pumpkins and squashes, such as white! These are perfect to draw on with a permanent marker pen, to create a colourful hand drawn design.

This is a great way for kids to get involved without having to use sharp instruments for carving. Maybe washable pens are best for very young kids, to save them staining hands with ink.

4. Create a gothic glow with electric candles

'Set the scene for a celestial Halloween season with glass domes and jars filled with candlelight, clustered together and woven in amongst black twiggy garlands on mantles and hearths,' says Lucy Kirk, Creative & Photography Manager at Lights4fun.

The success of this gothic mantle-piece rests on the battery-powered taper candles which cast a safe but creepy glow. You can pick a set of four remote-controlled tapered candles for £40 which can be repurposed for Christmas.

'The branch-inspired garland design brings a bewitching glow to home décor when styled beside a variety of TruGlow® dripping wax taper candles, ivory votive and spooky pillar candle designs, as the gentle flicker of candlelight and tarot-inspired touches of amethyst lend an astrological energy that uplifts living spaces for the spooky season.'

4. Embrace colourful Halloween

If you have spotted the Pinkoween trend you'll have noticed that Halloween isn't just for the cosy or spooky crew anymore. It has become a full-on colourful affair kitted out with vibrant coloured pumpkins, pink decorations and so much more.

Some say it is down to the Mean Girls anniversary this year, personally, we think it's because Halloween is the perfect time to be bold and brave with your decor. It is the time to dress up after all, so why not dress your home as the most colourful version of itself?

When choosing your colourful palette think about the colours already in your home and dial these up (or down) a shade or two with your decorations. This will create a seamless look between your everyday home and your home's Halloween persona.

5. Make your own spooky candles

While we love pumpkin candles as much as the next person (who really loves pumpkin candles), there’s no doubt that they can be a little big and bulky when you’re planning an epic Halloween-themed dinner party for your family or friends.

If you’re looking for something a little slimmer and a little more subtle, these bat dinner candles will still spook mere mortals. And while we love these from Ginger Ray, you could easily DIY these yourself if you fancy getting creative with the kids before the big day.

6. DIY pop-pom ghosts

Make these adorable characters from leftover yarn. To make the pumpkins, use a pom pom maker to make an orange pom pom. Cut a pipe cleaner into three pieces and bend one end of a piece around the middle, then curl the other end around a pencil to bend into shape. Tie fishing wire around the end to hang.

To make the ghost tassels, cut a 10x12cm piece of cardboard. Cut a small piece of wool and place it along the length of cardboard. Wind the rest of the wool around the width of the cardboard 25 times and tie the short piece tightly around one end. Snip the yarn at one end to release the tassel. Tie another length of wool round the neck of the tassel and knot to secure, then hang with fishing wire. Add googly eyes if you wish!

7. DIY a kooky neon sign

Mixing a cool and unusual lighting option with Halloween decor? Sign us up! And we're not the only ones who think neon signs are going to dominate spooky season this year.

‘Neon signs have been hugely popular over the last 18 months due to their vibrant, eye-catching and contemporary appearance, but Autumn has prompted a renewed interest,’ says a rep for The Range.

And while you can buy a pre-made neon sign, you could also give it a go yourself. We love using this JIGUOOR Orange Neon Light Wire from Amazon to create our spooky Halloween signs, and we think you will, too.

8. Reduce, re-use, re-spook

If you’re trying your hardest to be eco-friendly and cut costs at every corner, Halloween can be a challenge. But you don’t have to shell out a fortune on new decorations if you don’t want to. It’s super easy to make your own using materials you’d usually throw straight into the recycling bin - so why not reduce, re-use, and re-spook?

To make these toilet roll Halloween decorations, you’ll need Duck Tape (in black, green, orange, yellow, and white), cardboard toilet roll tubes, scissors, and googly eyes. Then, you can spread them out throughout the house, spooking your family at every corner.

9. Go chic, but make it creepy

While it can be easy to fall head over heels for plastic Halloween decorations, this can often look tacky. If you’re looking for a chicer alternative for older kids or an adult-only home, there are so many ways to make your house look spooky but chic for Halloween.

‘Opt for arranging tapered iron-look candle stick holders of differing heights together with smaller ornaments such as glass pumpkin candles and ghost-shaped candles. Pull the look together with black and red roses or a gothic garland,’ says a rep from The Range.

10. Mummify your kitchen jars

At Ideal Home, we love a Kilner jar. There are so many ways to use a Kilner jar, and this has to be one of our favourite hacks yet. This Halloween decoration idea is perfect for those who have left the decorating to the last minute, as this DIY creation will take just a few minutes to make - and can be removed as soon as the spooky season is over.

But more than anything, we love how this mummy jar can have so many uses. You could use it as a trick-or-treat jar, you could use it to store your homemade Halloween cookies, or you could fill it with lights!

11. Create a gothic tablescape

If you're hosting a Halloween party your dining table should be the centrepiece. Embrace a grown-up spooky theme and fill your table with gothic details.

'Your dining table is the place you can really go to town on the spooky settings,' says Home entertaining and tablescaping expert Lucy Hood, founder of Tableday.co.uk. 'Bright orange and jet black are usually key colours, and with Hallowe’en it's all in the details, black faux flowers, velvet fabric pumpkins, black skull place settings, eerie test tube vases, black candle sticks, paper fake spiders and bats, and a gothic table runner which will really pull together any Halloween party look.'

12. Swap cushions covers for creepier styles

One of the easiest ways to decorate your home for Halloween is to swap out your soft furnishings, especially cushions. ‘If you are a Halloween fanatic and will likely decorate your home every year, purchasing Halloween-themed bedding and cushion covers is a cost-effective way to transform your home, time after time,' says Leanne O’Malley home interior expert at Studio.

'Plenty of Halloween-themed soft furnishings are available at an affordable price, or you can simply replace your current covers with ones that are orange or black in colour, which you may already have stored away in your linen closet.'

13. Cast a magical glow with fairy lights

Fairy lights aren't just for Christmas, they work a treat for creating a magical Halloween display. Nestle battery-powered fairy lights amongst pumpkins as a safer alternative to tea lights. We love them scattered over a mantlepiece idea and tumbling out of cauldrons for a witchy glow.

'Take one-time measurements of your home so you know how many Halloween lights you'll need, there’s nothing worse than hanging some lights or decorations and realising they only cover half of the intended space!' recommends Paula Boston, Visual Merchandiser at Festive Lights.

'When Halloween is done, switch things up and place these lights around wreaths and baubles and keep the autumnal hues present during the Christmas season,' adds Danielle from Cox and Cox.

14. Use a chalk-pen to create a cobweb window

If you don't want to spend a lot on Halloween decorations, tracing a Halloween pattern onto your windows is a smart way to get in the festive spirit for a couple of pounds. This cobweb design was created by illustrator Hello Ruth. Simply download the free template, blue-tac it to the outside of the window and trace along the lines inside the window with a chalk pen.

A single chalk pen should cost a couple of pounds from a local stationary store. Alternatively, you can pick up a pack of 6 Chalk Pens from Amazon for £11.95. When the festive season is over all you need is a damp cloth to wipe your design away.

15. Change things up with a silver scheme

Orange and black might be traditional, however, for more sophisticated Halloween decorating ideas consider matching them to your existing colour scheme. Grey living room ideas will pair beautifully with a silver pumpkin display.

Layer together plush pumpkins, ceramic versions and real pumpkins for a multi-textured effect. Hobbycraft's plush pumpkins are perfect for this, as are white 'ghost' pumpkins which you can pick up for around £3 at most supermarkets.

16. Create a balloon arch

Make your Halloween party go with a bang (although not literally we hope) by creating a spooky balloon arch. Arrange a combination of black, white and silver balloons above a table laden with treats. Use a black marker to draw ghostly faces on the white balloons. Cut bats, spiders and webs from black paper and arrange among your display.

17. Display an autumnal wreath

Celebrate the season by adorning your door with a sophisticated autumnal wreath. Dress a grapevine wreath blank with leaves, berries and pinecones in warming red and orange tones. Attach mini velvet pumpkins for softness.

Use florist's wire or a glue gun to make sure components are securely attached. If you're worried about exposing your wreath to the elements, display inside on an internal door or as part of a table arrangement.

18. Make a spooky picture gallery

Make your own Halloween silhouette framed pictures. Cut creepy images and phrases from black paper and mount on a white background. If drawing out your shapes before cutting, don't forget to draw them back-to-front on the reverse of the paper. Pop your pictures in black frames and display on the wall or on a mantelpiece.

19. Welcome Trick or Treaters

Welcome visitors with a cute custom Halloween doormat. You can make your own using a Cricut cutting machine and vinyl to create a stencil. Secure in place with masking tape and use black acrylic paint and a stencil brush to fill in your design. Leave to dry for 24 hours, then seal with spray varnish.

20. Shine terrifying tea lights

If you can't handle the mess of carving pumpkins, try placing flickering tea light candles in empty clip-top jars. Give them a Halloween twist by using PVA to glue orange tissue paper on the inside of the jars. Add creepy shapes like bats and spiders in black paper to create spooky silhouettes.

Place anywhere around the house, inside or out, to encourage a little All Hallow's Eve atmosphere. If you have children or pets, consider using LED candles to avoid accidents.

21 Hang bewitching bunting

Who doesn't love a bit of bunting? It's easy to whip up and can come out year after year. Cut triangles from black and white card. Use half an apple and orange paint to print pumpkin shapes in the centre of each flag. Once dry, paint on stalks in green paint.

Cut eyes and a mouth from black paper and stick to the pumpkin faces. To hang your bunting, attach string or twine to the tops of the flags using craft tape.

22. Opt for a retro theme

Vintage-inspired Halloween decorations are all the rage this year. The trend is divided into two camps the twee 1950s Halloween fans versus the disco Halloween obsessives.

'Nostalgia is dominating this spooky season as people head to Pinterest for Halloween decorations inspired by the past,' says Matt Siberry, Head of Home at Pinterest UK.

'We’ve seen searches rise for hippy Halloween looks, with references to the 70s and the days of disco. There’s a certain bewitching charm about vintage-inspired Halloween decorations - from bubbly lettering e, to smiling skeletons and mirror balls pumpkins.. With an array of items and scary styles available to shop through Pins, people can easily turn this groovy twist on spooky inspiration and make it a haunting reality.'

So whether you prefer a disco pumpkin or cute paper decorations, this is the year to time-warp your Halloween decorating ideas.

23. Paint a pumpkin

Not a fan of carving? Painted pumpkins are just as effective, especially when contrasted with worn wooden knick-knacks on a reclaimed dresser. Simply paint on your funny or scary face, then mix and match with different shapes and sizes of pumpkins for an attractive seasonal display.

Add a warm, autumnal touch with strings of berries along the top, intertwined with twinkling fairy lights.

FAQs

What is the best way to decorate for Halloween on a budget?

Everyone is feeling the pinch on there purse this year, but that doesn't need you have to forgo the festivities. There are plenty of items around your house you can repurpose into Halloween decorations.

'Part of the fun of Hallowe’en is creating some DIY decorations,' says Lucy Hood, founder of Tableday.co.uk. 'Cut out eye shapes in old loo roll holder and put a glow stick inside, when it’s dark it will look like devil’s eyes. Fill a Mason jar with cotton wool balls and paper spiders and put a green glow stick inside and they look really effective.

'Obviously, there are pumpkins that can be cut up and candles put inside, and then if you have white candles and drip red wax on them they look like they are bleeding. It’s great fun making them and they are so easy to do.'

How do you stop Halloween decorations from looking tacky?

This is an age old question when it comes to Halloween, while we all enjoy getting in the festive spirit the best way to avoid decorations from looking tacky is to skip the plastic and store bought confetti.

'The best rule is to avoid cheap plastic supermarket stuff,' explains Lucy Hood. 'Not only is it really bad for the environment and ends up in landfill in November, but it also just looks really obviously cheap.

'It’s so easy to make your own decorations that it’s really not necessary either. Also it’s best to avoid fake spiders’ webs if possible because they are just polyester and again not great for the environment.'

Confetti leaves made out of felt look instantly more glamorous than shiny foil. Alternatively, our paper bats or wool ghosts will all cost less to make than buying in the supermarket and a homemade approach will never look tacky.